“Are you sure?” Beth asked, staring suspiciously at Jared.

“I’l be right there,” I smiled.

My friends reluctantly left me behind, and I buried my face in Jared’s chest once again, tightening my arms around him.

“Nina, please tel me,” he pleaded. “You’ve been freaking out al morning.”

“I’m sorry.”

He pul ed up my chin and scanned my face for a clue. He sighed in frustration when I didn’t speak. “Nina, I need to know.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t come.” I looked down to my boots; I couldn’t look him in the eye while sounding so pathetic.

Jared took my face in his hands and kissed me tenderly. “I wil never leave you again. Not like that.”

“Not like what?” I asked, concerned there might be more behind his words.

“I won’t make that mistake again. I’m yours for as long as you’l have me.”

“You promise?”

Jared smiled. “I love you more than I could ever promise.”

I rested my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes, indescribably happy. The euphoria faded when I realized I would have to make it through lunch and another class before I would see him again.

“Nina?”

“I’m never going to get used to that, you know,” I said, frowning.

“Get used to what?”

“You sensing how I’m feeling. It’s….” I trailed off, wrinkling my nose.

Jared chuckled. “Weird?”

I looked at him sheepishly and shrugged. “Why don’t you come to lunch with me?”

“Here?”

“You can’t go to class with me, but you can come to lunch. It would help.”

“Help with what?” he asked, stil stumped.

“With the….” I hesitated. Being honest meant casting blame in his direction, which I had no desire to do.

“Anxiety,” Jared finished for me. As I predicted, he was visibly upset that I felt that way.

“I don’t mean that it’s your fault, I just meant....”

He held out his hand. “Come on.”

I felt the corners of my mouth turn up, and I let his warm hand surround mine as we walked into The Ratty. Every face at the table seating my friends seemed to look over at us in unison as we walked to the buffet.

“They’re just curious.” I said as we walked through the line. Jared simply nodded.

“Everything al right, Nigh?” Beth asked once we were seated.

“Everything is great,” I said.

“You didn’t look so great when we left you,” Kim said. Her eyes narrowed in Jared’s direction for a moment, and then returned back to me.

Jared seemed amused by my friends’ incredulous expressions.

I picked up the spoon from my tray and muttered under my breath; I’d meant to grab a fork. Before I could get up, Jared sat a fork on my tray. I looked up to thank him, but before I could form the words, Ryan puffed a disgusted laugh.

“Is he going to feed you, too?” Ryan said.

“Shut up,” I sneered. If I hadn’t been so angry I might have feared for Ryan’s safety. Jared could have easily reached over the table and snapped his neck. He watched Ryan, but seemed outwardly unaffected.

“What are we doing this weekend, Ryan?” Josh asked.

“I don’t know,” Ryan answered. His eyes were focused on Jared, ful of hate.

Kim spoke, “I say we go to our regular spot. We’re making that place a ton of money. The geriatrics love the entertainment we’re providing.”

“You just like older men,” Josh teased.

“Only the ones that carry around a bottle of Viagra,” she said off-handedly. Everyone at the table paused for moment, waiting for her to crack a smile. When she didn’t, they continued discussing plans.

Ryan looked away from Jared after Kim’s comment, and she winked at me after the moment had passed. The girl was a genius.

“I’m in,” Tucker said.

Beth turned to face me. “Nina?”

“Oh,” I said, quickly glancing at Jared from the corner of my eye. “I don’t know what I’m doing, yet.”

“Come on!” Kim groaned.

“Why don’t you bring Jared? It’l be fun,” Beth chirped.

Ryan slowly turned to her with angry disbelief. Beth sank back in her chair.

Noticing Ryan’s reaction, Jared hugged me gently to him and smiled. “Sounds good to me. Do you want to go?” he asked, turning to me.

“Uh...sure.”

“Sweet!” Kim said with a mouth ful of food.

“Spring Break is in two weeks,” Carrie chimed in. “Lisa and I are going to Tahoe. Does anyone else want to go skiing?”

“That sounds amazing! Do you want to go?” Beth said, looking at Chad.

Chad shrugged. “I haven’t been skiing in a couple of years. How many spots do you have open?”

“My mom has a place there. We can al fit if you guys want to come,” Lisa said.

“How much fun is this going to be?” Beth clapped. “Do you want to go skiing, Nigh?” she asked, turning to me.

“I don’t know. I usual y go on vacation with my parents. I’m sure Cynthia has something planned, already,” I looked to Jared who nodded infinitesimal y, confirming my assumption.

“You can’t get out of it?” Kim asked.

I shook my head. “Not this year. I don’t want to make her go alone.” Kim and Beth nodded in understanding.

“I’ve gotta get back,” Ryan said, rising. He peered up at me a few times while gathering his things, and then walked away without saying goodbye.

Josh fol owed closely behind.

“What his problem?” Lisa asked.

Kim shrugged, but I caught her glance in my direction.

Jared walked me to my next class. I was glad that he decided to do that on his own; it saved me the humiliation of asking. Suddenly the task of sitting through the next hour was less daunting.

“I’l see you after class?” he asked, kissing my cheek.

“I’m sorry you had to come al the way here,” I said, leaning my cheek into his lips and closing my eyes.

“Nina,” he scanned my face, exasperated. His was the tone he used when I had misunderstood something he thought was obvious. “Don’t apologize. I was here, anyway. How would I protect you from the loft?”

“So…you just hang around campus every day?”

“Unless you leave. That is my job.”

“So…when I saw you al of those times before, off campus? When I first started running into you?”

Jared nodded, looking caught. “Shamelessly stalking you.”

I felt my face brighten. “Good to know.”

Class seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, I was on my way to Jared’s loft again, riding happily in the passenger seat.

He held the door open with one hand, and held my bag in the other. I put my things in the downstairs bathroom, finding a deep whirlpool tub.

I wil definitely be trying that out, later, I thought to myself.

I walked to the couch and sank into the cushions. I was home.

“Nina?” Jared whispered in my ear.

I blinked a few times, trying to focus as I looked around the room. The sun no longer filtered through the windows and a blanket was draped over me. “What time is it?” I asked, stretching.

“It’s after six. Did you want to go out for dinner or stay in?” Jared asked.

“Definitely stay in. I’l cook this time,” I offered.

“You’re stil tired, how about we order in?”

“You don’t think I can cook?” I looked at him with accusing eyes.

“I didn’t say that. I can’t say I’ve ever tasted your cooking. Jack has mentioned it, though.”

“He loved my cooking,” I said defensively.

“Jack adored you. You could have served him sludge from a toxic waste plant and he would have asked for seconds,” Jared teased.

“I’m going to prove it to you.” I walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door.

Jared was instantly behind me. “Nina, you’ve had a long week, a rough night last night, and you went to school today. You don’t have to prove anything tonight.”

“I’m fine,” I said, surveying the contents of his fridge.

Just then, Claire burst through the door, kicking it closed.

“You’re going to have to buy me another door—again—if you keep that up,” Jared growled, turning to face her.

Claire held two large, plastic bags. “Dinner.”

A smug smile immediately appeared on Jared’s face.

“I guess that settles it,” I said, defeated.

Claire brought the sacks to the table. “I was over by Thai Star. I got you the Green Curry, Nina. Jared…your usual. There are egg rol s and Satay, too.”

“Thanks, Claire,” Jared said, digging through the sacks and sticking an egg rol in his mouth. After a moment he looked up at me. “What?”

It was surreal enough to have my new boyfriend know al of my favorites, al of my idiosyncrasies, and sense my feelings. With his sister—who I’d seen al of three times— bringing my favorite dish from a restaurant I frequented, I couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed.

“I’m sorry. We’re going to have to do a better job of easing you into this,” Jared said.

Claire realized what he meant, rol ed her eyes and spoke in a disgusted tone, “It’s dinner, Nina. I’ve been around you my entire life, so natural y I would know your food preferences. You were less disturbed about us being Half-breeds.”

“I know. It just took me off guard,” I whispered.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” Jared said, glaring at Claire then looking back at me with concern. “It’s going to take some getting used to. We know it’s going to be awkward for you for awhile.”

“Speak for yourself. It’s annoying how you coddle her al the time,” Claire fumed.

“Don’t take your daddy issues out on her,” Jared snarled.

Claire narrowed her eyes and put her fists on the table, leaning closer to him. Jared automatical y angled his body protectively in front of me.

“Wow! I am starving!” I said, a bit too loudly.

Jared and Claire both looked at me with their typical polar-opposite reactions. Jared was amused at my attempt to avoid bloodshed, and Claire appeared to be contemplating a way to choke me to death before Jared could stop her. I sat down and opened the flip-top box Jared had placed in front of me.

I watched him rummage through the other sack, pul ing out boxes of appetizers, and I tried to mimic his casual demeanor. Claire stood there for a moment, glaring at both of us, and then sat down to her meal.

After a few minutes of silence, Jared and Claire began discussing their day. I caught on after a while that they were being vague. I didn’t press the issue, from the path of the conversation I assumed it was about Claire. At least they weren’t speaking a foreign language.

“It looks like I’l be leaving in a couple of weeks,” Claire grumbled.

“Spring Break?” Jared asked.

Claire nodded. “Ich hasse diesen See,” she said, leaning back in her chair.

That was when my patience faded. “I’m going to have to learn German,” I grimaced.

“I’m sorry,” Jared said, “we’re not trying to exclude you. We were just discussing Claire’s training.”

“I gathered that,” I said, picking at my food.

Jared smiled at me with adoration and then leaned over to kiss my cheek.

Claire rol ed her eyes. “Sie bilden einen Dummkopf von selbst.”

“I’m not making a fool of myself. She’s right, we’re being rude.”

I smiled at Jared’s complimentary translation. He leaned over again to quickly kiss my forehead before going upstairs.

Claire rol ed her eyes again and then took her plate to the sink. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

I had to look twice when Jared returned downstairs. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of red soccer shorts and wel -worn running shoes. He stood behind me as I rinsed dishes at the sink, and then wrapped his arms around my waist.

“You don’t have to do that. I’l get to it, later,” he said, pressing his cheek against mine.

“Don’t start,” I said, trying to sound tough.

Jared left me to retreat to the corner where he kept his home gym. I loaded the few dirty dishes in his sink into the dishwasher while Claire walked into the downstairs bathroom and closed the door behind her. Suddenly the door opened again and my suitcase was hurled with incredible precision from the bathroom, landing directly beside me.

“This is my bathroom,” Claire warned.

I swal owed nervously, staring at the suitcase that sat an inch from my foot. I offered a meek smile. “Nice tub.”

Jared puffed from the corner. “They’re both my bathrooms, and you’re welcome to either.”

Claire glared at him and slammed the door, making my shoulders shoot up to my ears.

“Don’t let her push you around. She’s al bark and no bite,” he puffed, pushing an absurd amount of weight.

I eyed the bathroom door. “She bites, Jared. She’d chew me up and spit me out.”

“She can’t hurt you. She just loves to see you squirm,” he chuckled.

“I thought you said you weren’t like the Archs, that you could hurt humans if necessary?” I looked back at him, trying to concentrate on the subject at hand instead of his perfect form.

“She could, but she won’t. Claire knows better than anyone what you mean to me. Besides the fact that she would have to come to blows with me to even come close to you—and she would never cross that line—she wouldn’t make me choose between you and my family. She’s just rattling your cage,” he said, repositioning himself on the bench.